In early January 2017, Simon Book, journalist for WirtschaftsWoche, traveled to the United States and examine whether the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would survive the change of administration in Washington, DC.

In the fall of 2016, Jörg Ratzsch, an Editor and Reporter for Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH, traveled to the United States to research the media’s role in the presidential election. He arrived in America at the end of October and left only a few days following the election. His fellowship allowed him to investigate how the 2016 election changed the mold of campaigning in the United States.

Working for the New York City Mayor’s Office, Jessica Wurwarg set off to Germany to examine urban sustainability. During her time in Germany, she researched the success of the Energiewende, or energy transition, and how Germany could be a role model for New York.

In early 2016, Jacob Kushner, a journalist for Vox magazine, traveled to Germany to explore the refugee crisis and the rise of nationalism. His research aims to explain how the million of asylum seekers caused an increased of xenophobia across the country.

Police violence in the United States has made international news in recent years. In the fall of 2016, Eva Raisig, a journalist for Deutschlandfunk, traveled to the U.S. to explore the “Black Lives Matters” movement in the wake of the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. She reflects on hidden racism and the importance of grassroots movements in the U.S.

As President Obama’s second term neared the end, Ingo Arzt, a journalist for Tageszeitung, traveled to the United States to examine how Obama’s administration was fighting against the next financial crisis.

With the long election process and constant media coverage, the world kept its eyes on the United States as Americans voted for a new president. In fall of 2016, Max Holscher, journalist for Hessische/Niedersaechsische Allgemeine, traveled to the heartland of the U.S. to gain a better understanding how Americans would vote.

Taylor Jordan, Staff Member for the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for the U.S. House of Representatives, traveled to Germany in early fall of 2016, to explore Germany’s domestic climate change plans and the Paris Climate Summit.

After Superstorm Sandy, New York City has been taking steps to be prepared for another natural disaster. Alan Cohn, who works for the New York City’s Department of Environment Protection, spent three weeks in Germany and the Netherlands researching how cities are adapting urban water management.

While Germany has been on the forefront of sustainability and climate change, some cities in the U.S. have made major changes to become more green. In early 2016, Frank Osterhage, Senior Researcher for ILS – Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development GmbH, completed research on smart growth in urban areas of the U.S.